What Cities and Counties Can Do to Prepare for the 2020 Census

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In less than a year, the Census Bureau will carry out the constitutionally mandated count, or the Census, of the nation’s residents. The Census is supposed to count everyone living in the United States to determine representation in Congress as well as the number of federal dollars sent to local communities to improve our nation’s health care, housing, education, transportation, and more. Being undercounted by even one percent in 2020 could result in a significant loss in federal funding for Texas — at least $300 million a year.[1] Without these federal funds, cities or counties would likely have to fill in the funding gaps for the next decade or go without services for their community.

In 2010 Census, Texas saw significant undercounts in local communities across Texas, including in large metro areas, college towns, rural counties, and communities along the Texas/Mexico Border. Texas is at risk of an even larger undercount in the 2020 Census. Today, 25 percent of Texans (over 6 million people) live in hard-to-count neighborhoods, areas where past self-response rates have been relatively low.[2]

Texas communities are
working on counting everyone. Given the geographic, cultural, economic and
regional differences between local communities, each area must determine the
best methods for engaging their community members to participate in the 2020
Census. To aid in this process, we have developed a set of recommendations to
support local communities to prepare for the 2020 Census:

Developing Local Support

If you do not have a complete count committee (CCC), connect to Texas’s Regional Census Bureau Specialist Rebecca Briscoe and CPPP at our 2020 Census webpage for materials. CPPP can also connect you to other resources and partners that can assist.

Identify city or county influencers—mayors, council members, or county judges—who can to set the 2020 Census as the priority for a local community. Meet with them and take our materials to convince them how important the 2020 Census is for your community.

Developing a Plan

Identify barriers to a complete count by holding
public meetings or focus groups with community-based organizations to
understand potential challenges and solutions needed to reach a complete count,
especially in your hard-to-count neighborhoods.

Identify trusted messengers from your community,
including local leaders, community-based organizations, service providers, and
faith leaders, and invite them to be a part of the planning process of your
community’s complete count effort.

Developing a Local
CCC

Establish a Local CCC to increase awareness and
motivate residents to respond to the 2020 Census. Subcommittees could include
government, education, faith-based, media, community-based organizations, and
business— each recruiting trusted messengers in those sectors to do direct
outreach.

Establishing a local CCC is only the first step.
When possible, local governments should commit resources such as a full-time
staff person to support the local CCC and allocating city or county dollars to help
implement outreach efforts.

To perform a robust 2020 Census outreach effort,
you will need resources. Connect with local chambers of commerce, businesses,
and philanthropy or foundations serving your area and ask them to help fund
your community’s 2020 Census plan.

A local CCC plays a key role in achieving a complete count because each Texas community is unique. Local communities can develop a robust plan to educate Texans in their communities on the 2020 Census and increase the response rate. Time is of the essence, get your local community committed to the 2020 Census. Click here to view two-pager to share in your local community.

Cassie Davis joined the Center as the State Priorities Partnership Fellow in 2018, a two-year fellowship through the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. She brings a deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, and a commitment to ensuring voices of underserved communities are amplified in the state policymaking process. She focuses on data-based projects to support the Center’s advocacy work, including KIDS COUNT, Census 2020 campaign, and other data-related projects for the Center’s partners. She previously worked as an anti-hunger advocate at Bread for the World and a public health intern for Texas Senator Royce West 85th Legislative session. In addition, she has served low-income communities through public health initiatives related to food access, nutrition education, and E-cigarette prevention. As a fellow, Cassie seeks to develop and communicate effective policy solutions to solve the current racial and economic inequities in Texas. Cassie received a dual-degree from University of Texas’s School of Public Health-Austin and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs for a Master of Public Health and Master of Public Affairs respectively and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin.